Missouri may not be the first state dairy farmers think of when it comes to cheese processing, but a new $267 million investment from Schreiber Foods could add another piece to the state’s growing dairy industry.
Schreiber plans to build a new process cheese manufacturing facility in Carthage, Missouri, with operations expected to begin in 2028. The project will add production capacity and create about 100 new jobs.
The investment also adds to Schreiber’s history in Carthage, where the company has operated since 1950 and now employs more than 1,300 people across its existing facilities.
“Our customers’ ambitions help shape where we invest and how we grow,” says Trevor Farrell, president of Schreiber Foods. “This investment reflects our confidence in the future and our commitment to being ready for what’s next.”
Process Cheese Demand Drives Expansion
Schreiber’s new facility will focus on process cheese, a category the company has produced for generations.
The company says growing customer demand is behind the investment, with additional capacity needed to serve retailers, restaurants, distributors and food manufacturers.
“We continue to see tremendous opportunity in process cheese,” says Jason Stephens, executive vice president and president, U.S. “It’s a category that Schreiber has helped shape for generations and one that remains important to our customers.”
The Carthage facility will expand Schreiber’s U.S. manufacturing network and add new production and technology capabilities.
For the company, the investment is part of a broader effort to expand its cheese manufacturing network around the world. Schreiber has more than 10,000 employees across five continents and annual sales of more than $7 billion. Its products include cream cheese, natural cheese, process cheese, beverages and yogurt.
Adding to Missouri’s Dairy Industry
The new plant will give Schreiber more processing capacity in a state with a much smaller dairy footprint than traditional dairy states.
Missouri’s dairy industry has continued to evolve, with farms and processors serving regional and national markets. Schreiber’s investment brings another large-scale dairy manufacturing project to the state and expands the types of dairy products being made there.
Schreiber established operations in Carthage in 1950 and has grown into one of the community’s largest employers. The company’s existing operations employ more than 1,300 people.
“On behalf of the mayor and City Council, we thank Schreiber Foods for its continued investment in Carthage,” says Traci Cox, city administrator for the city of Carthage. “Since establishing operations here in 1950, Schreiber has been a valued community partner and major employer.”
Cox says the expansion will create additional opportunities for local residents and contribute to the area’s economy.
Jeff Meredith, chief executive officer of the Carthage Economic Development Corporation, says the project also could increase demand for housing as the community adds workers.
“Their capital investment and job growth show that Carthage is ready for business and built for growth,” Meredith says. “The project strengthens our community and will increase the need for housing to support the next chapter of Carthage’s development.”
For more on dairy processing, read:
- Chobani Bets $1.2B on Pennsylvania, Takes Over Keurig Dr Pepper Plant
- New York Dairy’s Growth Equation: How Processors, Co-Ops and Farmers Are Building the Future Together
- Foremost Farms to Close Marshfield Plant, Eliminating 68 Jobs by Mid-December
- $13 Billion Bet: Why Dairy Processors Are All-In on America’s Protein Future
- How U.S. Dairy Plans to Grow 15 Billion Pounds by 2030 With Half the Farms
